The National Assembly has put out a stern and basically unequivocal rebuttal to what’s been going around on social media about the proposed Finance Bill, 2026, supposedly bringing in new levies, or some kind of annual rent on freehold land. In a formal communication released on Monday, Parliament described the viral claims as “purely false, incorrect, and untrue,” with the stated aim of stoking worry among property owners.
The misinformation, which has gained significant traction online in the past 48 hours, alleged that the government was secretly planning to convert freehold land into leasehold arrangements in order to impose recurring annual charges. The story also claimed that the change had already undergone public scrutiny and received legal approval.
Parliamentary authorities have flatly denied all that, saying, pretty clearly, that the Finance Bill, 2026, is just a revenue-mobilization document. “The 2026 Finance Bill contains a total of 57 clauses, and none is on the subject of land,” the statement said.
The House also stressed that there is no additional piece of legislation currently before the assembly, nor under consideration, which would adjust land tenure systems or bring in fresh land-based taxation.
“There is no such Bill in Parliament, and no Act has been passed by Parliament or signed into law by the President in the current session relating to land rent on freehold land,” the notice emphasized.
MPs have been warning the public to use caution and to be careful about what they see because the viral narratives might not be “just viral” at all. They’re saying it could be part of a coordinated disinformation effort meant to steer public perception during the ongoing budget cycle.
Right now, the National Assembly is urging citizens to confirm anything sensitive through official government channels and to avoid relying on unverified digital platforms, especially as the country moves through a sensitive phase of fiscal review.
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